Improved surgical splffit



ginitrh tetra attrnt t'fitrt.A

H. D. BALLARD, 0F FINDLAY, omo, AssteNoR To HiMsnLr AND ISAAC BONE-AM, or SAME PLAGE.

ALetters Patent No. 82,478, dated September 29, 1868.

IMPROYED SURGICAL SPLINT.

l.IO A LL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that I, H. D. BALLARD, of Findlay, in the county of Hancock, and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Splints for Surgical Uses; and I do hereby declare that' the following is a. full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to make and vuse the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 represents a side elevation of my improvedsplint= with a part broken away,

Figure 2 represents the application of the saine, in the case of fraoture of patella, and

Figure 3 represents the same in the case of the fracture of the leg. d

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts.

The object of this invention is to provide an improved splint for surgical purposes.

It consists of a. splint made in two parts, which are so joined togetheras to be adjustablein a longitudinal direction, and provided with springsy arranged to have a constant tendency to extend the parts. .The ends of the splints are provided with buckles, to which adhesive straps are attached, said adhesive straps being attached to the limb above and below the fracture. i

A a'nd A represent the two parts, which are preferably made of wood, and of concave form upon one side.

The part A. is provided with tenons, a, and the part A with slots, into which'the tenons fit and slide freely.

The-slots are provided withr coiled springs b, which bear against the ends of the tenons, and have a constant tendency to extend the two parts. The extension-joint so formed-'is encased in a metallic case, to properly confine them together, and the part A is provided with a pin, d, .the ends of which project into slots .inthe sides of the case, to prevent the parts being separated too far.

C represents adhesive straps,t\vo ends of which are fastened, by their own adhesion, to the limb; the other ends of the straps are attached to the splint by means of buckles, for the purpose of producing extension and counter-extension'. I

In the application of my improved splint as shown in iig. 2, when the parts are required to be drawn together, thel adhesive straps are passed around the leg, as shown, and connected to the splint, so that the springs will have a tendency to draw the parts together.

The tension of the springs may be increased by drawing up the straps in the buckles to any desired degree.

Fig. 3 shows tlievapplication of the same, where the parts Arequire to be forced gently away from each other, as in the case of fracture of the leg; the'adhesive straps Cl C being so secured to the leg as to cause the springs to draw the two parts in opposite directions.

The part a may bc provided with a scale, as shown vat e, to indicate the amount of pressure, in pounds, of the springs. v

Having now described my invention, I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent- Thc im roved s lint, com oscd of the arts A and A', rovided with the s rin -extension joint and with P P P P P P g Y the adhesive straps, all substantially as and for the purpose'described.

H. D. BALLARD.

Witnesses:

A. HUnD, G. W. GALLDWAY, Jr. 

